National Republican., 1887-03-28
MRS. RoeERs's srRANGEsroRY.
Claiming TO BE Mr.. RandaiPs Niece'
Which He Denies.

Which He Denies.
Miss Jennie L. Moore is president Of the
Mizpah Association Of the Blind in Brook
Ign. She became interested in a family by
meeting three poverty stricken children on
the sidewalk. Upon inquiry she learned
that they were the children OF Mrs. G.
w. Rogers, who lived on the top floor aud
who told a pitiful story.
81 was BORN" she said, Ton the corner
Of Chestnut aud Eighth streets, Philadel.
phia, in 1850 My father, George Conk-
ling, was IA representative In Congress in
that year and the one following, and re.
maintd In Washington mixing with the
best society until was sent to st. Mary's
Seminary In Newark, N. j. While there
l met with my first husband, whose name
was Donovan. He died of heart disease,
leaving me with five children, the last two
being twins. Then my real troubles COM
menccd, but after awhile the Young Wo-
mems Christian Society Of New York OBJ
tained employment for me at Staten Island.
/ did not stay long there and finally mar =
fied my present husband, who is a coach
painter. OF course my relatives In Wash.
ington and Philadelphia gave me the cold
shoulder for marrying q man whom they
said was beneath me, but did not care
what they thought, because | loved Mr..
Donovan, and have never bothered my
friends sincen
Further investigation was made of the
case. 1t was asceTtaned that there have
only been three Conklings 10 the congress
sioDal directory. Roscoe is ono of the
three, but George Conkling does not appear
In that hook Of reference as from Pennsyl-
vania, or anywhere else, In lS5OlS5l, or at
any other time. Mics Moore was made ac-
quainted with this fact, and she called again
on Mrs. Rogers, who persisted In saying she
was the daughter Of eX.Congressman Geo.
Conkllng, of Pennsylvania, and that her
mother was sister OF Samuel j. Randall,
ex.spcaker of the House of Representatives.
Mr.. Randall was written to and the corre-
spondent called upon Mrs. Rogers at 1G5
Fourth avenue. He met black.eyed and
black.haired woman OF about 81 years of
age, who still shows signs Of former beauty.
When told that her visitor was a friend Of
Samuel j. Randall, OF Philadelphia aud
Washington, the lady seemed reiolced to
see the stranger, and instantly volunteered
the statement that she was the niece OF the
illustriOus statesman.
"How many nieces did your Uncle
Samuel have ~ asked the correspondent.
"He had two, one OF whom married a
man named Stanley, and the other, Kate,
became my mother, who died, and father
then married again. have son the living
image of Uncle Randall. lived in Wash
ington when Pierce and Buchanan were
Presidents and remember both OF them very
well. After my father retired from con-
gressional life he held many offices under
the Presidents named"
"Did your uncle have any more sisters?"
"Oh, yes; he had number OF foster Sis
ters whom used to call aunties."
''Do you remember the names?'
81 do not. You see was so young then,
and 1t is So long ago that my memory fails
me in that direction.n
"How do YOU get along now?"
~ am doing very well at present. My
husband is Kind man, who is very good to
my former husbands children. He is earn
ing good wSges now, but while he was out
Of work We had tempestuous time, but
am perfectly satisfied and have no desire to
return to the city Of my birth or look again
on the faces OF my wealthy and intellectual
| relations. l do not think that Sam Ran
| dali has any money, for he was always
looked upon as an honest politician, and
he has large family to look after"
Mrs. Rogers did not appear to be a
| crrnk, and 1t is safe to say that her story
would be believed by nine out Of every ten
| persons who listened to 1t. Nevertheless,
| Mr.. Randall, In response to the letter ad-
dressed to him, replied as follows:
WASHINGTON, d. c., Mar. %, 1SS7.-MY DEAR
| SIR: Yours received. / do not know Mrs.
George Rogers. Her mother was not my sis.
ter. had but one sister who grew into years,
Mrs. Samuel Williams, who left three children,
oil OF whom survive her, are married and have
families. Faulty In one, faulty in all. Yours
truly, SAMUEL ]. RANDALL"